Improvement in thill-couplings



T. W. & H. K. PORTER.:-

TMll-Coupling.

Patented Nov. 4, 1879.

LNo. 221,188;

llllllilllllllLl/l. /lfl/ n ff@ z5.

my i W Z7 m66 THOMAS w. PORTER, OE CHELSEA, AND HENRY H. roRTER, OE BOSTON,

MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN THILLICOUPL|NGS.

Specification forming part of Letters PatentNo. 221,188.1dated November 4, 1879; application filed March 14, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS W. PORTER, ofthe city of Chelsea, Sta-te of Massachusetts, and HENRY K PORTER, of the city otBoston, in said State, have invented Improvements in Shaft-Shackles for Vehiclcs,vot' which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the shackles by which the shafts of bur-wheeled vehicles are hinged to the forward axle; andthe invention consists in certain improvements inthe shackle proper-to wit, that part which is secured to the axle, and in which the drafteyeof the shaftiron is pivoted-such improvements being as ,Y follows: iirst,in a shackle formed with a bed or plate to be clipped beneath the axle, and with the draft-ears extending back and shoulderin g against the axle, with a web rising from the bed and extending from one of such ears to the other, Euch web having formed in the rear side a recess to receive the clip which Secures the shackle to the axle, second, in a thin wed gelike shoulder formed upon the bed to extend up the back side of the axle, and to be inelosed between the clip and the axle 5 third, in a shoulder formed upon, the bed, with a concavity in its upper line to receive the rounded end of the web of the clip, so that while such shoulder extends up the axle, yet the clip-web may extend down the axle as far as it no shoul der were employed; fourth, in a shelf-like stop formed upon one of the draft-ears, in such close contiguity to the pivot-bolt hole that 011e of the faces of the square head of such bolt shall, by its contact with the stop, prevent rotation of the bolt, either by use otl the vehicle or when the nut is being turned on or off; fifth, in a roughened plate formed to be interlocked with the draft-ears, and to receive upon its front face and hold in position an elastic buffer inserted between such plate and the draft-eye, to prevent lthe said eye from rattling 5 sixth, in a Seat for the front nut of the clip, such seat projecting from the bed midway between the draftears, with a space between such seat and ears on each'side, to admit such roughened plate to rest upon said seat and be locked beneath such ears.

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a shackle, shown as clipped to the axle, and formed with a thin web between the draftears, and with a thin web as a back shoulder, the draft-eye p modification in the web between the ears. Fig. l

4 is a top or plan view ofthe shackle, as in Fig. 1, all the other parts being omitted. Fig. 5 is a lside elevation of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a front elevation ot'Fig. 4, shown as clipped to the axle. Fig. `7 is a bottom or under-side view of the shackle, as shown'in Figs. l, 4, 5, 6. Fig. 8 is a rear or back side view ot' Figs. 1 and 6. Fig. 9 is a rear view of the moditication shown in Fig. 2.- Fig. 10 is a rear view of Fig. 3. Fig. 11 is a horizontal section of Fig. l, taken through the axis of the draft or pivot bolt, as shown on line Y Z, Figs. 14,15,16. Fig. 12 is 'a similar section of Fig. 2. Fig. 18 is a similar section of Fig. 3. Fig. 14 is a central vertical section of Fig. 1, taken transversely to the axle, and showin g the lower portion of a safetystrap on the loop. Fig. 15 is a similar section of Fig. 2. Fig. 16 is a similar section of Fig. 3. Fig. 17 is a vertical section as takenon line W X, Fig. 14. Fig. 18 is a front elevation of the roughened buffer-plate. Fig. 19 is an edge or side elevation of thevsame.` p

In these figures, a represents the' bed of the shackle. b b are the draft-ears, through which pass the draft-bolt c, on which is pivoted the draft-eye d. e is a clip-nut seat formed at the front ot' bed a, and extending between the draftfea-rs, with an open space on either side between the seat and ears. f is a similar nutseat formed at the rear of the bed. The rounded ends of the clip pass through holes in these seats, and the clip secures the shackle in place. j is a web which rises from bed a and unites ears b. Three modifications oi this web are shown; but as we claim but one of these theothers need not be fully described.

In Figs. 2, 12, and 15 this web is shown with a recess on the side next the axle for the re.- ception of clip g.

In Figs. 1, 5, S, 11, and 14, 7c shows a wedgelike shoulder formed upon and rising from bed a, and extending up the back side of the axle h, the clip g embracing this shoulder.

In Fig. 10 the shoulder m is shown cut down or formed with a eoneavity in its upper edge, thereby allowing` the webv ot' the clip to be drawn as near the bottom of the axle as if no shoulder were formed upon the shackle.

Fig. 1S is a front View, and Fig. 19 an edge View, of the roughened plate p, which is inserted between ears b, as shown in Figs. 1, 7, 11, and 14, the short projections n u catching under the ears to prevent the friction or aetion of buter 1' from raising the plate out of place, while its lower edge, resting upon the seat c, prevents its' being forced downward. o is a groove or space in this plate to receive the tail of elip g. This plate may be liuted, corrugated, toothed, or otherwise roughened, in order that it may take a rm hold upon the rubber buf'er and prevent its being displaced by the action ofthe draft-eye.

s is a stop formed upon one of ears b, in such close proximity7 to the hole for the draftbolt e that the head of this bolt will bear directly against the stop and prevent its rotation from any cause. t is a loop formed on ears b, beneath the same, to which loop the safety-strap u is secured.

IVe do not claim, broadly, a shackle having the web formed between thedraft-ears, butonl y when such web is formed with a recess for the clip in the back side; nor do we herein claim, broadly, a bolt-stop formed upon one of the draft-ears, but only when such stop is formed to receive one of the faces of the bolt-head, so

as to be held from any rotary motion neither do we herein broadly elaiin a safetystrap loop formed upon the draft-ears, but only when such loop is formed beneath the said ears.

We claim as our inventionl. In a shaft-shackle, the web j, having a recess to receive the clip g, and uniting the ears b, and shouldering against the axle h, as described and shown.

2. In a shaft-shackle, the wedge-like shoulder k, formed upon the back end of bed a and inside the clip-hole, with its outer face taugental to the periphery o' such hole, so as to be inclosed between the clip and axle, substantially as specified.

3. In a shaft-shaekle, a shoulder or web rising from bed a, and formed with a concavity in the upper edge, as shown atm, to receive the web of the clip, substantially as specified.

4. In a shaft-shackle, a shelflike stop, s, formed upon and projecting from the outer plane ot'draft-ear b, and in such close proximity to the pivot-bolt hole as to be in contact with the head of such bolt when it is in position for use, and to hold the saine from rotation, substantially as specified.

5. In a shaft-shackle, the plate 1), formed with lugs to interlock with ears b, substantia-lly as specified.

6. In a shaft-shackle, the nut-seat e, formed upon bed a, between ears b, and of less width than the space between said ears, substantially as specified.

THGMAS W. PORTER. -HENRY K. PORTER.

Witnesses:

EBEN HUfrornNsoN, GEORGE B. HAsKELL. 

